Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 179.  Wed 11-06-91 23:59  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: John Vanderwyden
 Subject: Eucharist

³ Thank you for your reply Father.  I found it very useful.
³ In my parish, their is an ongoing and sometimes fierce debate
³ regarding this subject.  Especially these three following points;
³  
³         1.) Communion In the Hand
³         2.) Eucharistic Ministers
³         3.) Standing to receive the Blessed Sacrament.
³  
³ There are differing opinions in our parish.  Most of our
³ parishioners accept the practices numbered above and do not give
³ them much thought.  There are of course others that may accept
³ one or two of the above, but not all.  Then there are people who
³ are convinced that the practices are a direct offense to Our Lord.
³  
³ I have read much on this subject from this last group.  Books
³ like "The Victorious Queen of the World" and others that are
³ by some pretty creditable authors  They describe apparitions
³ and devotions such as Our Lady under the title of Rosa Mystica.
³ The body of material on the whole is very convincing.
³  
³ In some of these books the alleged messages from Our Lady are
³ quite condemning of all three practices.  I have seen cartoons
³ where Our Lord is depicted in chains, lead to the Catholic Altar
³ while he must watch lay ministers distribute His Body and Blood
³ in the form of Hosts to the faithful who are all inappropriately
³ dressed.  I have even watched on cable TV, two long public service
³ type of announcements that dealt with this subject.  These two films
³ and the aforementioned books all assert that these, and other
³ practices are evidences that "The Smoke of satin is in our Church".
³  
³ Some of the people are quite upset.  Understandably, when you
³ consider that they absolutely believe that they are witnessing
³ a severe attack to Our Lord, every time they go to Mass.
³  
³ I do not receive Communion with my hands, but concede that there is
³ much Church history and tradition that support this practice.
³ My understanding is that there is an equal tradition in the
³ Church for both ways of receiving the Blessed Sacrament.
³  
³ I think that much of my catholic school training is the basis
³ for my hesitance towards these practices.  So, I remain confused
³ by the issues. (obviously!) I intend to keep praying for Gods
³ guidance in this matter, and really do not want to make a decision
³ until I am sure.  If you can recommend any book or particular
³ magazine article for me to read I would be grateful.
³  
 
Dear John,
 
Private revelations may never replace the authority of the Church.  You
mention certain books highly critical of the practices of standing to
receive Holy Communion, receiving Communion in the hand, and receiving
Communion from lay ministers of the Eucharist.  You ask for an
authoritative book on these subjects.
Liturgical Press in Collegeville, Minnesota publishes Documents on the
Liturgy 1963 - 1979, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4.  Another priest, who is
knowledgeable about liturgy, told me that this book has not yet been
updated from 1979.
 
In this huge tome, I find these references:
1) " The faithful may receive Communion either knelling in standing ...
The faithful should willingly follow the manner of reception indicated
by the pastors so that Communion may truly be a sign of familial union
among all those who share in the same table of the Lord.  When the
faithful communicate knelling, no other sign of reverence toward the
Most Holy Sacrament is required, because the kneeling itself expresses
adoration.  When they receive Communion standing, it is strongly
recommended that, approaching in line, they make a sign of reverence
before receiving the sacraments (Sacred Congregation of Rites,
Instruction "Eucharisticum Mysterium", 24 May, 1967, no. 34).
 
2)  "The Apostolic See since 1969 has granted to petitioning
conferences of bishops ... the faculty of giving Communion in the hand
of the faithful."  (Sacred Congregation of Sacraments, "Instructione
Nemoriale Domini", 17 March, 1976). N.B.  This letter includes a
warning about irreverence toward the Eucharist and about the need for
careful teaching about the Eucharist.  It is not to be treated like
ordinary bread.
 
3) The Instruction of the Sacred Congregation of the Sacraments, 29
January, 1973 declares: "(Local bishops) possess the faculty enabling
them to permit fit persons ... to give Communion."  The fit persons are
listed according to the order of the listing as: major seminarians,
male religious, female religious, catechist, lay person (male or
female).
 
Thank you for using our service.  I hope to see more of your questions.
 
                        Sincerely in Christ,
 
                        Father Mateo